In this Austen sequel, Elizabeth and Darcy have wed. Shortly after returning to Pemberly, Elizabeth finds a letter which begins to make her question her husband. Does Darcy have a deep dark secret he's hiding?
I have to admit, this one started out rather slowly. Through the first third of the book I kept wondering when something was going to happen. Once the story started to pick up, however, I realized that this beginning of the book was integral in establishing the day to day routines and characters. I still wish it could have been punched up a bit and found myself bored in the beginning. I found myself not really caring about Darcy's secret or whether dear Lizzie would ever figure it out. I did find both Darcy and Elizabeth as endearing as ever and the romantic love story is continued with a grand flourish.
Over all, I'd say this book was just an alright read, were it not for one thing. There was a wonderful back story! Darcy has decided it's time for his sister, Georgiana, to marry. Though her heart belongs to one man, she knows it's her familial duty to marry the one chosen for her. As little as I cared about Darcy and Elizabeth, I was enraptured with Georgiana's story. Had it been the focal point of the book and Darcy's secret secondary, I would probably have given this book a much better review.
In general, I have to give this book an alright rating. It's worth a read, especially for you Austen fans. It's written in beautiful art just as Austen wrote. Though the beginning was a slow starter, it did make up for it in the end. I'm just not a patient reader. It's definitely worth picking up just for reading Georgiana's story.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Sudden Moves by Kelli Sue Landon
When Katie doesn't return from Spring break, rumors start flying about what happened to her. The kids at school are told that her family decided to move to Florida, but some of Katie's friends just can't believe that. Her friends, Michelle and Tami, and her boyfriend, Brad, decide to do a little investigating of their own. What they find me be even more dark than what their young minds are imagining.
I have one really positive thing to say about this book and one really negative. First, though, it was a great read. I was immediately sucked in and didn't want to put it down until I'd finished. The characters are interesting and lifelike. The story is presented well and plotted well. It's definitely a satisfying read. Now on to the pro and con that really stuck to me.
First, the good stuff. When I had several chapters left, a good friend texted me and asked what I was doing. Of course, I responded with reading. They asked if the book was any good and so I went on a tirade about how I love mysteries but I always seem to figure them out half through and this book is no exception. At that point, I had the mystery all figured out and was just waiting for the characters to catch up to my brilliant deduction abilities. They asked if this meant the book would get a bad review and I responded with 'Heavens no! I usually do have the mystery figured out...it's all a matter of whether I want to keep reading once I have and I definitely want to keep reading this. Whether I have it figured out or not, I'm still having a blast with it.' So, before the good thing happened, I was already pleased with the fact that I could keep enjoying the book after the mystery was gone for me. Then, the most amazing thing happened. I was wrong! I freely admit it! A wonderful little plot twist was tossed right in and I was wrong! I love it! I sat the book down, looked out into space and said 'Well, I'll be, Kelli! Way to go!'
Now, sadly, the bad news. Keep in mind, this is just my perspective. Most of the time, through their actions and dialogue, I imagined them to be 12 or 13 years old at the most. Every time one of them talked about driving it really threw me. It was like my mind was on a yo-yo of imagining what they looked like. One minute they're girls on the cusp of adulthood and the next their supposed to be young adults. Definitely don't let this sway you from reading the book. You all know I have to be honest though and I don't want somebody reading it and thinking this and calling me a skunk for not warning anybody ahead of time.
One last note....it's edited well! I think I found only one mistake!!! Woo hoo!
I have one really positive thing to say about this book and one really negative. First, though, it was a great read. I was immediately sucked in and didn't want to put it down until I'd finished. The characters are interesting and lifelike. The story is presented well and plotted well. It's definitely a satisfying read. Now on to the pro and con that really stuck to me.
First, the good stuff. When I had several chapters left, a good friend texted me and asked what I was doing. Of course, I responded with reading. They asked if the book was any good and so I went on a tirade about how I love mysteries but I always seem to figure them out half through and this book is no exception. At that point, I had the mystery all figured out and was just waiting for the characters to catch up to my brilliant deduction abilities. They asked if this meant the book would get a bad review and I responded with 'Heavens no! I usually do have the mystery figured out...it's all a matter of whether I want to keep reading once I have and I definitely want to keep reading this. Whether I have it figured out or not, I'm still having a blast with it.' So, before the good thing happened, I was already pleased with the fact that I could keep enjoying the book after the mystery was gone for me. Then, the most amazing thing happened. I was wrong! I freely admit it! A wonderful little plot twist was tossed right in and I was wrong! I love it! I sat the book down, looked out into space and said 'Well, I'll be, Kelli! Way to go!'
Now, sadly, the bad news. Keep in mind, this is just my perspective. Most of the time, through their actions and dialogue, I imagined them to be 12 or 13 years old at the most. Every time one of them talked about driving it really threw me. It was like my mind was on a yo-yo of imagining what they looked like. One minute they're girls on the cusp of adulthood and the next their supposed to be young adults. Definitely don't let this sway you from reading the book. You all know I have to be honest though and I don't want somebody reading it and thinking this and calling me a skunk for not warning anybody ahead of time.
One last note....it's edited well! I think I found only one mistake!!! Woo hoo!
Thursday, January 27, 2011
It's Not Your Fault by Emanuel Barling, Jr., Esq. and Ashley F. Brooks, R.N.
Having reviewed a book by Manny and Ashley before, I knew basically what to expect here. These are two very loving and sweet people who have been on the brink of death and figured out how to pull themselves back into health using nutrition. Neither of them are doctors and neither claim to be. They do their research well and present it in a manner that makes sense. They don't normally tell you anything silly, such as that they know more than doctors. They're coming from a place of having been there and wanting to help others. Since I know the true spirit that this book was meant in, it makes it a little difficult to review it, since I was disappointed in a few things.
First, this book takes a more in-depth look at the foods that we eat. We all know that fast food isn't healthy for you, but what about a sandwich from the deli? Fresh tomatoes from the supermarket? What about foods sweetened with Splenda? Surely these are healthy for us! A sandwich is meat, veggies and grains, right? Tomatoes are a vegetable! Nothing fishy about that, right? Splenda has to be better than sugar! Everyone says sugar is bad, right?
The premise of this book is to educate the populace on exactly what is in the foods that we purchase and eat. It's researched well and all notes are included for anyone who wants to check up on them. There are lists of foods that have 'hidden bad foods' in them to make it easier to cut out some of the foods that are 'naughty'. Manny and Ashley believe the chemicals, pesticides and preservatives in the foods we consume are what make us overweight and unhealthy. I have to agree with them to some degree.
Though the book is well-researched and I know they created it to help others, I had a few problems with it. I'm NOT suggesting you don't read this book! The information in there is incredible and definitely worth a look, even if you just skim it. There are some great ideas for alternative foods rather than the ones that we currently eat. It really is a fascinating read for anyone interested in nutrition, health, or just attaining a better lifestyle. So what's my problem? Though I know they meant this to come across in a loving and helpful nature, it just didn't feel that way to me. To be honest, I was a little biased throughout most of the book as a comment in the very beginning upset me to a small degree. Farmers were lumped in with the list of people that are 'poisoning' us. No, those weren't the exact words and I'm not trying to spark a debate, though any of you are more than welcome to respond. I'm definitely no farmer. I'm a gardener. A hobby gardener. When you get in the business of growing large amounts of plants for mass consumption, you have one huge problem. Pests. Insects and other animals attack your crops. This is just how nature works. The great thing about organic gardeners is that they grow on a smaller scale so that they can keep down this problem without having to resort to chemicals to keep the plants and produce safe. I agree that most farmers have to use pesticides in order to keep their crops safe and that those pesticides are probably not the most healthy. My problem is that in order for those farmers to sell their crops, they have to make sure they're government regulations are up to code. I don't feel it's fair to blame them for keep their crops free of pests and adhering to government regulations. Blame the government regulations, sure, but make sure you have a back up plan for keeping the plants and produce pest free. My biggest problem with this book is that it comes across as organic propaganda. 'Eat organic and you'll be skinny and healthy!' That's quite possibly true. The problem is that both sides aren't presented here. It's not a fair book because it only shows the upside to eating organic. Yes, you can easily make your own tomato paste at home. It's much healthier and takes fewer ingredients. It's also incredibly easy to do. What isn't listed is that it also takes hours to do. Now, if you're a stay-at-home mom or work at home, this could be an ideal alternative for you. You could be cooking your tomato paste while busy doing something else as well. This just isn't a feasible answer for most people who work full time jobs and have other responsibilities though. The response to that is to then only buy organic tomato paste. Great idea. One problem. Most people can't afford to only buy organic foods. They struggle just to buy chemically preserved items at the store without resorting to canned ravioli. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't have a problem with the organic lifestyle at all. I agree that it's way healthier. I just wish that it had been a section on how to change your lifestyle and start incorporating healthier eating into your life or even a chapter on how to make organic items at home. I wish that I hadn't felt as if farmers were being attacked. I wish that more of that loving 'we've been there and we want to help you' attitude was present throughout the book. Instead, I found more of a 'we're right and everyone else is wrong' attitude. I so hate typing that because I know for a fact that that isn't the way this book was meant to be presented.
First, this book takes a more in-depth look at the foods that we eat. We all know that fast food isn't healthy for you, but what about a sandwich from the deli? Fresh tomatoes from the supermarket? What about foods sweetened with Splenda? Surely these are healthy for us! A sandwich is meat, veggies and grains, right? Tomatoes are a vegetable! Nothing fishy about that, right? Splenda has to be better than sugar! Everyone says sugar is bad, right?
The premise of this book is to educate the populace on exactly what is in the foods that we purchase and eat. It's researched well and all notes are included for anyone who wants to check up on them. There are lists of foods that have 'hidden bad foods' in them to make it easier to cut out some of the foods that are 'naughty'. Manny and Ashley believe the chemicals, pesticides and preservatives in the foods we consume are what make us overweight and unhealthy. I have to agree with them to some degree.
Though the book is well-researched and I know they created it to help others, I had a few problems with it. I'm NOT suggesting you don't read this book! The information in there is incredible and definitely worth a look, even if you just skim it. There are some great ideas for alternative foods rather than the ones that we currently eat. It really is a fascinating read for anyone interested in nutrition, health, or just attaining a better lifestyle. So what's my problem? Though I know they meant this to come across in a loving and helpful nature, it just didn't feel that way to me. To be honest, I was a little biased throughout most of the book as a comment in the very beginning upset me to a small degree. Farmers were lumped in with the list of people that are 'poisoning' us. No, those weren't the exact words and I'm not trying to spark a debate, though any of you are more than welcome to respond. I'm definitely no farmer. I'm a gardener. A hobby gardener. When you get in the business of growing large amounts of plants for mass consumption, you have one huge problem. Pests. Insects and other animals attack your crops. This is just how nature works. The great thing about organic gardeners is that they grow on a smaller scale so that they can keep down this problem without having to resort to chemicals to keep the plants and produce safe. I agree that most farmers have to use pesticides in order to keep their crops safe and that those pesticides are probably not the most healthy. My problem is that in order for those farmers to sell their crops, they have to make sure they're government regulations are up to code. I don't feel it's fair to blame them for keep their crops free of pests and adhering to government regulations. Blame the government regulations, sure, but make sure you have a back up plan for keeping the plants and produce pest free. My biggest problem with this book is that it comes across as organic propaganda. 'Eat organic and you'll be skinny and healthy!' That's quite possibly true. The problem is that both sides aren't presented here. It's not a fair book because it only shows the upside to eating organic. Yes, you can easily make your own tomato paste at home. It's much healthier and takes fewer ingredients. It's also incredibly easy to do. What isn't listed is that it also takes hours to do. Now, if you're a stay-at-home mom or work at home, this could be an ideal alternative for you. You could be cooking your tomato paste while busy doing something else as well. This just isn't a feasible answer for most people who work full time jobs and have other responsibilities though. The response to that is to then only buy organic tomato paste. Great idea. One problem. Most people can't afford to only buy organic foods. They struggle just to buy chemically preserved items at the store without resorting to canned ravioli. I guess what I'm saying is that I don't have a problem with the organic lifestyle at all. I agree that it's way healthier. I just wish that it had been a section on how to change your lifestyle and start incorporating healthier eating into your life or even a chapter on how to make organic items at home. I wish that I hadn't felt as if farmers were being attacked. I wish that more of that loving 'we've been there and we want to help you' attitude was present throughout the book. Instead, I found more of a 'we're right and everyone else is wrong' attitude. I so hate typing that because I know for a fact that that isn't the way this book was meant to be presented.
Cute Eats Cute by C.B. Murphy
Sam is a teenager having more than ordinary problems. His dad is a DNR agent. His mother is a free spirit member of Wicca. His girlfriend and best friends want to save the world. When the DNR decides the deer population in the local park is overrun, everyone has different opinions of how it should be handled, each wanting Sam to side with them.
This was actually a much better story than I'd expected. Though it deals with the difficult issue of whether or not animals should ever be killed, it's done so in a dramatic and 'close to home' way rather than politically. All sides are presented equally. I couldn't figure out which side I was on, and I have no idea how poor Sam could either. Each character is passionate about their position and willing to go to great lengths to do what they believe is right.
What really impressed me with this story is the way that C.B. was able to pull off the teenager mindset. Yes, I know he was once one himself, but it's really hard to put yourself back in that position, and that's not even taking into account how much teenagers have changed since I was one. They are more socially conscious now. It's almost like the hippie generation skipped my generation and moved right on to the next one. Yes, that's an overgeneralization, but it's my opinion and I'm holding onto it for now. The point is that it amazes me how well C.B. was able to put himself in their mindset and extract what each was thinking. Not only that, but the dialogue is incredibly well written for teens. It's not 'dumbed down' or talking down or full of that slang that most of us old people believe young people use.
This was a great story and a good read. It calls upon you, as the reader, to put the story in perspective as it pertains to your own life. What do you believe? It challenges you to go on your own spirit quest and discover a little more about yourself, while at the same time being allowed to sympathize with a poor teenage kid being ripped apart.
This was actually a much better story than I'd expected. Though it deals with the difficult issue of whether or not animals should ever be killed, it's done so in a dramatic and 'close to home' way rather than politically. All sides are presented equally. I couldn't figure out which side I was on, and I have no idea how poor Sam could either. Each character is passionate about their position and willing to go to great lengths to do what they believe is right.
What really impressed me with this story is the way that C.B. was able to pull off the teenager mindset. Yes, I know he was once one himself, but it's really hard to put yourself back in that position, and that's not even taking into account how much teenagers have changed since I was one. They are more socially conscious now. It's almost like the hippie generation skipped my generation and moved right on to the next one. Yes, that's an overgeneralization, but it's my opinion and I'm holding onto it for now. The point is that it amazes me how well C.B. was able to put himself in their mindset and extract what each was thinking. Not only that, but the dialogue is incredibly well written for teens. It's not 'dumbed down' or talking down or full of that slang that most of us old people believe young people use.
This was a great story and a good read. It calls upon you, as the reader, to put the story in perspective as it pertains to your own life. What do you believe? It challenges you to go on your own spirit quest and discover a little more about yourself, while at the same time being allowed to sympathize with a poor teenage kid being ripped apart.
Sunday, January 23, 2011
Mountain Dragon: Fulfillment by Bradley Clemmons
First, thanks, Bradley, for sending me this book so quickly. You all need to know what a wonderful, understanding man he is. After my (very whiny) e-mail letting him know that I just couldn't wait to keep going with the story, he hopped right on it and made sure my every need was taken care of. I'm always fond of nice authors and very impressed by Bradley's attitude towards a poor, whiny reviewer.
On to the review! This is the second half of the Mountain Dragon book. The first, Mountain Dragon: Aspiration, you'll find reviewed last week. I loved it and just couldn't wait to get my hands on the rest. This book picks up right where the other left off. This was originally written as one book, but with being a new author and not wanting to charge too much for a book, Bradley ended up splitting it up into two segments. The first follows our heroine from age five until she begins her teen age. This one continues from there and brings us more of the story of our heroine. I'm encouraged by some writing at the end of this book that there may be more coming. Then again, this book was 9 years in the making, so it may be no easy feat to continue the story.
I loved the second half of the book just as much as the first. I have to say I got more out of it, but I'll get to that in the next paragraph. Though this book could be read alone (as can the first), I strongly suggest you read them back to back. Even after days in between, I was still sucked right back in by the first sentence. I couldn't sleep. I carried the book with me while eating and bathing and changing diapers and doing laundry. I even ended up burning an entire pan of melting chocolate because I couldn't put it down for a few seconds to stir. Honestly, I consider it chocolate well-destroyed because if I had it to do over again, I still wouldn't have stirred the chocolate! The storyline is just wonderful. If you read it as just a story without looking for higher meaning, it's dramatic and full of action and magic. No, I don't mean pulling coins out from behind ears, I mean that magic that tingles your soul.
On a higher level of thinking, this book is about all of the different levels of attaining enlightenment. As our heroine goes through the story we watch her learn each level and valuable lessons. Yes, this sounds boring, but it's really not. Bradley has a way of presenting thoughts and ideas in such a manner that you read them as just part of the story, but they sink into your brain and allow you to think about them later. After finishing the second book, I have a more complete line of events to piece it all together. I'm not finished, by any means. There's just too much there to ponder and roll around. I don't mean to sound like he brainwashes you. It's nothing like that. I just mean that it's made a part of the story so that you pick it up, but you're not bored and stuck on it. It's kind of like learning about ghost towns by visiting one. You get to see everything firsthand (ok, secondhand since it's a book, but you get the point!), but it's not a bunch of boring book learning staring at you. You learn more by living (even vicariously!) through something than simply being told about it.
So, here I've been rambly again. I'm pretty good at that. The point is that this is an excellent and fulfilling read. Though I wasn't fond of the title for the first book, this one was just absolutely wonderful and accurate. I felt such a wonderful sense of fulfillment upon finishing the book. Don't make the mistake of not reading the epilogue though! Trust me! Honestly, this is a book set that you won't want to miss. Whether you're reading it for entertainment or enlightenment, you won't be disappointed. Bradley definitely has my seal of approval and I hope he'll contact me in the future when he has more to be released.
On to the review! This is the second half of the Mountain Dragon book. The first, Mountain Dragon: Aspiration, you'll find reviewed last week. I loved it and just couldn't wait to get my hands on the rest. This book picks up right where the other left off. This was originally written as one book, but with being a new author and not wanting to charge too much for a book, Bradley ended up splitting it up into two segments. The first follows our heroine from age five until she begins her teen age. This one continues from there and brings us more of the story of our heroine. I'm encouraged by some writing at the end of this book that there may be more coming. Then again, this book was 9 years in the making, so it may be no easy feat to continue the story.
I loved the second half of the book just as much as the first. I have to say I got more out of it, but I'll get to that in the next paragraph. Though this book could be read alone (as can the first), I strongly suggest you read them back to back. Even after days in between, I was still sucked right back in by the first sentence. I couldn't sleep. I carried the book with me while eating and bathing and changing diapers and doing laundry. I even ended up burning an entire pan of melting chocolate because I couldn't put it down for a few seconds to stir. Honestly, I consider it chocolate well-destroyed because if I had it to do over again, I still wouldn't have stirred the chocolate! The storyline is just wonderful. If you read it as just a story without looking for higher meaning, it's dramatic and full of action and magic. No, I don't mean pulling coins out from behind ears, I mean that magic that tingles your soul.
On a higher level of thinking, this book is about all of the different levels of attaining enlightenment. As our heroine goes through the story we watch her learn each level and valuable lessons. Yes, this sounds boring, but it's really not. Bradley has a way of presenting thoughts and ideas in such a manner that you read them as just part of the story, but they sink into your brain and allow you to think about them later. After finishing the second book, I have a more complete line of events to piece it all together. I'm not finished, by any means. There's just too much there to ponder and roll around. I don't mean to sound like he brainwashes you. It's nothing like that. I just mean that it's made a part of the story so that you pick it up, but you're not bored and stuck on it. It's kind of like learning about ghost towns by visiting one. You get to see everything firsthand (ok, secondhand since it's a book, but you get the point!), but it's not a bunch of boring book learning staring at you. You learn more by living (even vicariously!) through something than simply being told about it.
So, here I've been rambly again. I'm pretty good at that. The point is that this is an excellent and fulfilling read. Though I wasn't fond of the title for the first book, this one was just absolutely wonderful and accurate. I felt such a wonderful sense of fulfillment upon finishing the book. Don't make the mistake of not reading the epilogue though! Trust me! Honestly, this is a book set that you won't want to miss. Whether you're reading it for entertainment or enlightenment, you won't be disappointed. Bradley definitely has my seal of approval and I hope he'll contact me in the future when he has more to be released.
Accidents Can Be Awesome
First, this isn't a review for anything, unless it's reviewing my own ingenuity in which case I'd normally give myself an F+, except for the instance I'm about to tell you about.
Yesterday I was in the mood for these wonderful little Oreo balls that a friend of mine makes. I have no idea what they're called. They taste like Oreos and they're shaped like a ball. She's given me the recipe at least six times and I still have no idea what on earth to put in these things to make them. So...rather than risk the chance of looking like an idiot by calling her and saying 'Yes, I know you've given me the recipe a zillion times, but how do you make those Oreo ball thingies?', I decided to guess! Sometimes I get lucky with recipes and sometimes I don't, but at least I knew there were Oreos in it, which means I had more than a fifty percent chance of getting them right....right??? Nope! I decided milk must be the magical ingredient and began pouring hapharzardly into my bowl of crushed oreos. What I ended up with was a thick, syrupy, yummy-tasting, gooey mess. Sam decided it made great mud to cover his trains in, so he took half of the bowl. The other half, well obviously there was no way I was rolling these things into balls. I really didn't want to slurp down a bowl of goo, either. I started randomly opening cabinets, looking for inspiration. There it was! A cake mix that I'd tossed together about 3 or 4 months ago! I whipped up the cake mix and baked it. Then I slapped the goo, like day-old cement, in between the layers and topped with a sweet chocolate frosting. I have to tell you guys...this is the best cake ever! This Oreo goo is amazing and I wish I'd have accidentally happened upon it before! It sort of soaked into the cake, but not all the way. Instead of having a layer of Oreo goo in between two cake layers, I ended up having a fudge-like center to my cake! Yum! I sure hope I can make it again on purpose!
P.S. Nope, that's not my cake up there! I just really hate to post a blog without a picture and that cake looks yummy!
Yesterday I was in the mood for these wonderful little Oreo balls that a friend of mine makes. I have no idea what they're called. They taste like Oreos and they're shaped like a ball. She's given me the recipe at least six times and I still have no idea what on earth to put in these things to make them. So...rather than risk the chance of looking like an idiot by calling her and saying 'Yes, I know you've given me the recipe a zillion times, but how do you make those Oreo ball thingies?', I decided to guess! Sometimes I get lucky with recipes and sometimes I don't, but at least I knew there were Oreos in it, which means I had more than a fifty percent chance of getting them right....right??? Nope! I decided milk must be the magical ingredient and began pouring hapharzardly into my bowl of crushed oreos. What I ended up with was a thick, syrupy, yummy-tasting, gooey mess. Sam decided it made great mud to cover his trains in, so he took half of the bowl. The other half, well obviously there was no way I was rolling these things into balls. I really didn't want to slurp down a bowl of goo, either. I started randomly opening cabinets, looking for inspiration. There it was! A cake mix that I'd tossed together about 3 or 4 months ago! I whipped up the cake mix and baked it. Then I slapped the goo, like day-old cement, in between the layers and topped with a sweet chocolate frosting. I have to tell you guys...this is the best cake ever! This Oreo goo is amazing and I wish I'd have accidentally happened upon it before! It sort of soaked into the cake, but not all the way. Instead of having a layer of Oreo goo in between two cake layers, I ended up having a fudge-like center to my cake! Yum! I sure hope I can make it again on purpose!
P.S. Nope, that's not my cake up there! I just really hate to post a blog without a picture and that cake looks yummy!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Threads West by Reid Lance Rosenthal
This book is the first in a six part saga about a group of people that are migrating west in the 1850's. They all start out separately, having their own secrets, pasts and reasons for the journey. As the saga begins, their paths cross and the story begins to unfold.
Love it! My only complaint is that I'm not willing to wait around for the second book. I suppose I don't have any choice but to wait, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! According to Reid's blog, he's currently working on Maps of Fate, the second book and hopefully I'll be notified when it's published so I can let you guys know.
This book is gritty and dirty and doesn't hold anything back. On the other hand, it's definitely polished. Reid has a knack for making even the mundane, necessary descriptions alluring. I was sucked in from page one and I've had two sleepless nights because of Threads. I've found myself having every reaction from 'Aww...that's so sweet!' to 'YOU F^*%%^& B^%$^*&!!!' Sadly, those expletives were out loud and I'm ashamed of my behavior, but I'm not taking the blame! The characters are lovable and detestable and I need more of them!
The Threads West saga has been compared to Lonesome Dove. Personally, I've not seen or read Lonesome Dove, so I can't say for sure. I can tell you that this book will appeal to history buffs as well as those who enjoy, romance, drama, action, politics, westerns and a good old-fashioned castration while being hung. Alright, the castration and hanging part hasn't happened yet, but I sure hope it does! Reid's found a faithful reader in me and I'm eager to see what happens next. Also, on a personal note, you should go check out Reid's blog because that is one good looking cowboy!
Love it! My only complaint is that I'm not willing to wait around for the second book. I suppose I don't have any choice but to wait, but that doesn't mean I have to like it! According to Reid's blog, he's currently working on Maps of Fate, the second book and hopefully I'll be notified when it's published so I can let you guys know.
This book is gritty and dirty and doesn't hold anything back. On the other hand, it's definitely polished. Reid has a knack for making even the mundane, necessary descriptions alluring. I was sucked in from page one and I've had two sleepless nights because of Threads. I've found myself having every reaction from 'Aww...that's so sweet!' to 'YOU F^*%%^& B^%$^*&!!!' Sadly, those expletives were out loud and I'm ashamed of my behavior, but I'm not taking the blame! The characters are lovable and detestable and I need more of them!
The Threads West saga has been compared to Lonesome Dove. Personally, I've not seen or read Lonesome Dove, so I can't say for sure. I can tell you that this book will appeal to history buffs as well as those who enjoy, romance, drama, action, politics, westerns and a good old-fashioned castration while being hung. Alright, the castration and hanging part hasn't happened yet, but I sure hope it does! Reid's found a faithful reader in me and I'm eager to see what happens next. Also, on a personal note, you should go check out Reid's blog because that is one good looking cowboy!
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